The Dragonslayer Order
An ancient order of knights and warriors, dedicated to the hunting of Dragons, and defending the lands of Vallanna from their attacks.
As long as their have been dragons, there have been dragonslayers. Exceptional individuals who dedicate their lives to opposing the desolation and death brought about by these powerful and often wickedly evil creatures. To become a dragonslayer is to pledge yourself, body and soul, to the destruction of dragonkind, at all costs, with nothing but the expectation of a death in service of this cause in your near future. Life-expectancy was short, bar a few extremely skilled individuals, but glory and reknown, as well as the safety of those threatened by the dragons, were seen by many an aspiring slayer as a worthy goal.
As a profession, dragonslayers were afforded utmost respect by the general populace for the work that they did, and for their sacrifices in service of their cause. Following a cataclysmic battle atop The Winged Peak, in 1048 AoU, the last members of the Vallannan chapter of the Dragonslayers, including their leader, High Dragonslayer Aer'val, were never seen again. However, as no sightings of dragons within The Drakeseat Mountains have been reported in the centuries since this battle, it is assumed that they died fulfilling their oath to rid the area of their ancient foes.
As a profession, dragonslayers were afforded utmost respect by the general populace for the work that they did, and for their sacrifices in service of their cause. Following a cataclysmic battle atop The Winged Peak, in 1048 AoU, the last members of the Vallannan chapter of the Dragonslayers, including their leader, High Dragonslayer Aer'val, were never seen again. However, as no sightings of dragons within The Drakeseat Mountains have been reported in the centuries since this battle, it is assumed that they died fulfilling their oath to rid the area of their ancient foes.
Structure
The Order were loosely affiliated at best - a collection of wandering, largely solitary warriors, united under common purpose. This is not to say that they did not have an organisational structure of sorts.
Led by a High Dragonslayer; typically the most experienced and respected member of the Order; they would convene in times of greatest need, pooling their efforts and co-ordinating their hunts to best accomplish their goals.
New recruits were trained by way of an apprenticeship under a more experienced member of the Order. It was not uncommon for survivors of a dragon attack to pledge their service to the dragonslayer who hunted down the dragon that destroyed their property and/or killed their loved ones. Whether such pledges would survive to become fully-fledged dragonslayers themselves was purely down to their own skill and luck.
Led by a High Dragonslayer; typically the most experienced and respected member of the Order; they would convene in times of greatest need, pooling their efforts and co-ordinating their hunts to best accomplish their goals.
New recruits were trained by way of an apprenticeship under a more experienced member of the Order. It was not uncommon for survivors of a dragon attack to pledge their service to the dragonslayer who hunted down the dragon that destroyed their property and/or killed their loved ones. Whether such pledges would survive to become fully-fledged dragonslayers themselves was purely down to their own skill and luck.
Assets
While the order's members plied their trade and lived the majority of their lives on the road, the Order did have a fixed headquarters, which served as a training ground, archive, and bastion, as well as a central meeting place from which to co-ordinate their activities. Known as Hawk's Vigil Keep, the imposing fortress was found on the eastern side of the Cloudkeep Mountains, south-west of the settlement of Bleakcall.
With the disappearance of the last of the Order in 1048 AoU, the Keep has since fallen into disuse, although its sturdy construction has meant that it is no danger of collapse. Whether a holdover of traditional respect for the dragonslayers' profession, or a superstitious fear of what may lay inside; the keep has remained essentially untouched since the times when the Order still used it.
With the disappearance of the last of the Order in 1048 AoU, the Keep has since fallen into disuse, although its sturdy construction has meant that it is no danger of collapse. Whether a holdover of traditional respect for the dragonslayers' profession, or a superstitious fear of what may lay inside; the keep has remained essentially untouched since the times when the Order still used it.
Disbandment
No members of the Vallanna chapter of the Dragonslayers have been seen since the climactic battle atop The Winged Peak in 1048 AoU. Other, loosely affiliated chapters are known to exist in other parts of the world with similar goals, but all are notably independent.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
Suffer Not The Drake To Live
Dissolution Date
1048 AoU
Type
Civilian, Knightly Order
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Leader Title
Location
Controlled Territories
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